Wall switch



Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITE-Dy STATES PATENT OFFICE WALL swl'ron Imbert I. mms, Winthrop, Mm. Appucatmnrebmary 1'1, 193s, serial No. 190,992 5 claims. iol. .zoo-16s) My invention relates to wall switches such as are installed in homes, ofces and other places for controlling electric lighting circuits and the `like, and to ornamental cover attachments for existing switches of that class.

The invention has for its object to improve vthe construction and appearance of electric switches of the class described.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved wall switch of the character shown and described -in my co-pending application filed January 3, 1938, Serial Number 183,081.

To these ends I have provided an improved wall switch of the character described having the features of construction and mode of operation set forth in the following description, the several novel features of the invention being particularly pointed out and defined in the claims at the close thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure l is a front elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a wall switch mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a section online 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a detail hereinafter described relating to the switch illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a wall switch mechanism embodying an alternative construction.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

A common form of wall switch comprises a porcelain body I0' equipped with a metal bridge bar I2 which is fastened at its opposite ends to a metal switch box I3 by screws I8, said box being incorporated within the wall I4 of the room. The body I0 contains the make and break mechanism -of the switch, as usual, and in Figs. 1 and 2 this mechanism is operated by means of two pushbuttons I5 and I 5' while in Figs. 4 and 5 it is operated byv a lever I6. Ordinarily the bridge bar I2`is provided with threaded apertures to receive two screws II by means of which a face plate I1 is secured to the bridge bar I2, 4the marginal portion of said face plate overlying the part of the J wall adjacent to the box I3. The face plate I1 is,

as usual, molded from sheet metal into a dish-like shape and so as to provide the same with a beveled outer edge as shown at I1.

In the case of push-buttonswitches the'face plate I1 is made near its middle with two holes or apertures as shown in lFig. 2l through which the push-buttons I5 and I5' project to the exterior of the faceplate where they were heretofore accessible Vfor direct manual operation, while in the case of lever switches of the type shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the face plate I1 was made with a single 'aperture Ila through which the lever I6 projected to the exterior of the plate I1 where it was'heretofore accessible for direct manua operation. l

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 comprises a rocker member I9 disposed between the two push-buttons I5 and I5', said rocker member being pivotally connected at 20 to one end of a resilient metal leaf spring 2I which is fastened intermediate its ends to the outer side of face plate I1 by one ofthe screws II-. At its opposite or outer end the leaf spring 2I is pivotally connected at 22 to a hand lever 23, said pivot 22 serving as the fulcrum for said lever.

The lever 23 is connected by a link 24 with the rocker member I9 so that when lever 23 is swung on its fulcrum 22 it acts through the link 24 to swing rocker I9'on its pivot 20. The rocker I9 is constructed with two oppositely disposed arms 25 each disposed opposite the outer end of one of the push-buttons. VIt will therefore be clear that when the hand ,lever 23 is swung upwardly into the position indicated by dotted lines in i Fig. 2 it will act through the link 24 to swing rocker I9 upwardly and cause the same to force the push-button I5 inwardly and this inward movement of push-button I5 is accompanied, as usual, by corresponding outward movement of push-button I5'. It will also be clear that when hand lever 23 is swung downwardly into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 it will act through the link 24 to angularly adjust rocker ation I have found it desirable, if not essentiaL to provide a resilient support for the rocker member I9 such as the leaf spring 2l which is of sufficient stiffness to insure operation of the pushbuttons by the rocker member and yet sumciently resilient to permit the rocker member I9 to fit itself to the push-buttons whatever be the relation of the latter to the face plate I1.

The link 24 is a bail-shaped AWire member having an intermediate portion pivotally mounted within an eye 26 provided on the lever 23 and having the extremities of its branches or legs pivotally connected at 21 to the rocker member I9.

lThe rocker supporting leaf spring 2I is secured in position against the outside of the usual face plate I1 by means of the original screws II after said face plate has been removed and replaced in reversed position as shown. The purpose in reversing the face plate I1 is to adapt it to re! Lil with a recess 29 that is open at its lower end but bordered at its top and opposite sides by marginal walls or flanges 30 and 3I, respectively, the inner sides of said walls or flanges beingbeveled or undercut to fit the outwardly flaring beveled edge I'I of the face plate I'I. Thusthe side walls or :danges 3| provide the cover member 28 with a..k

described construction is that the operating lever 23 has its free end portion disposed outside of vthe cover member 28 and away from the wall I4 within which the switch is installed so that the fingers of the hand operating lever 23 are prevented from contact with the wall so that soiling of the latter is prevented.

The cover member 28 is preferably a` molded product designed for ornamental effects, particularly upon its exterior, and so as to cover and hide from view all of the original switch mechanism and all of the switch operating attachment except the lever 23. This lever 23 is also preferably a molded product. Suitable materials for use in producing the parts 23and 28 are Bakelite, hard rubber and the like but, of' course, said parts may be produced otherwise if desired.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 I provide a cross-head or slide 32 which is slidably mounted between the outer side of the face plateA I1 and a resilient metal leaf spring 2Ia. The cross-head or slide 32 is formed at its middle with an aperture through which the lever I6 of the switch extends and at one end is made with an ear or. lug 33 extending outwardly through a slot `34 at the inner end of the leaf spring 2i a. The lug or ear 33 is pivotally connected at 35 to one end of a bail-shaped link 36 whose opposite end is pivotally connected to a lever 23 that is pivotally connected at 22 to the outer or lower end of the leaf vspring 2Ia. The leaf spring 2Ia yieldingly urges the cross-head or slide 32 toward the .face plate I1 and the hub of lever I6 but it will be clear that whenlever 23 is swung on its pivot 22 it will act through the link 36 and the cross-head or slide 32 to operate the lever I6 thereby to open and close the switch. The resiliency of the spring 2 Ia permits the crosshead or slide 32 to fit itself to the lever i6 whatever be the relationship between said lever land face plate I1.

When installing the wall switches of this type the box I3 does not always bear the same relationship to the outer surface of the wall so that the distance between the face plate which is outside of the wall and the box I3 by which the switch I0 is supported will often vary, sometimes as much as 1A; of an inch, with the result that the lever I6 may project through the face-plate more or less but the resiliency of the spring 2Ia permits the cross-head or slide 32 to accommodate itself to the lever I6 whatever be the relationship between said leverand the face plate.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an existing wall switch of the character described comprising a body adapted to be fixed within a cavity of the wall, an apertured face plate fixed to said body whose marginal portion overlies the outer face of the wall adjacent to said cavity, and switch-operating mechanism projecting from said body amarteI through said apertured face plate to the exterior thereof, of an actuator element engaging said switch-operating mechanism, said element being disposed outside of said face plate, a resilient support for said actuator element by which the latter is yieldngly urged toward said switchoperating mechanism, means fastening said supi port to saidface plate, a finger lever pivotally mounted upon said support adjacent to the lower end of said face plate, means connecting said finger lever with said actuator through which said nger lever adjusts said actuator when it is swung on its pivot, a hollow cover inclosing and .concealing said face plate, said switch-operating mechanism and said actuating mechanism with the exception of said finger lever, and means by which said cover is attached to'said face plate.

2. 'I'he combination of claim 1 wherein said resilient support is a metal leaf spring.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said resilient support is a metal leaf spring and wherein said leaf spring is secured in position against the outer side of said face plate by a screw that is part of the existing wall switch.

4. The combination with an existing wall switch of the character described comprising a body adapted to be fixed within a cavity of the wall, an apertured face plate fixed to said body whose marginal portion overlies the outer face of the wall adjacent to said cavity and switch-operating mechanism including push-buttons projecting from said body through said apertured face plate. to the exterior thereof, of a rocker element for actuating said push-buttons, said rocker element being disposed outside of said 'face plate, a resilient support on which said rocker element is pivotally mounted and by which the latter is yieldingly urged toward said push-buttons, means fastening said resilient support to said face plate, a fingerlever pivotally mounted upon said support adjacent to the lower end of said face plate, means connecting said finger lever with said rocker element through which said finger lever adjusts said rocker element when said finger lever Y whose marginal portion overlies the outer face of the wall adjacent to said cavity, and switchoperating mechanism including a switch leverprojecting from said body through said apertured face plate to the exterior thereof, of a cross-head slidably fitted against the outer side of said face plate and engaging said switch lever, a leaf spring yieldingly holding said cross-head in position against said face plate, lmeans fastening said leaf spring in position against the outer side of said face plate, a finger lever pivotally mounted upon said leaf spring adjacent Ito the lower end of said faceplate, means connecting said finger lever with said cross-head through which said finger lever adjusts the latter when it is swung o n its pivot,I a hollow cover inclosing. and concealing said face plate, said switch lever and said lever actuating mechanism with the exception of said nger lever and means by which said cover is at- 

